Obesity is generally linked to complications in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a proprietary extract of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) to that of a proprietary formulation containing CQR-300 (CORE) on weight, blood lipids, and oxidative stress in overweight and obese people.

Both CQR-300 and CORE also brought about significant reductions in weight, body fat, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose levels over the respective study periods. These changes were accompanied by a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol levels, plasma 5-HT, and creatinine.

The incidence of obesity in adults as well as children is on an increase globally. Once considered a problem of developed countries, this global epidemic also affects developing countries. Coupled to this epidemic are obesity-related complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, and Type-2 diabetes, which are spreading rapidly across poor and middle-income countries, where infectious diseases and malnutrition have previously overshadowed such illnesses [1]. Obesity is a principal causative factor of metabolic syndrome [2-6]. The coexistence of these metabolic syndromes (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in the same individual) is a growing medical problem in industrialized countries [6-9]. It has been reported that obesity may induce systemic oxidative stress and that increased oxidative stress in accumulated fat is associated with dysregulation of adipocytokines and development of metabolic syndrome [6]. Oxidative stress has been shown to be involved in the process of atherogenesis [10], ischemic heart disease [11], obesity [6], metabolic syndrome or syndrome X, diabetes [12,13], as well as in immunodeficiency [14]. The stability of tissues against oxidative stress is however enhanced by antioxidant compounds, which could be present in the diet [15]. Antioxidants have also been shown to be very effective in inhibiting the oxidation of LDL and scavenging of free radicals and reactive oxygen species in vitro [16-20]. These compounds are present in fruits and vegetables, which contain natural antioxidants, and are known to delay the onset of atherogenesis. Cissus quadrangularis (Linn) has been used by common folk in India for promoting the fracture healing process. It has been prescribed in Ayurveda as an alterative, anthelmintic, dyspeptic, digestive, tonic, analgesic in eye and ear diseases, and in the treatment of irregular menstruation and asthma. In Cameroon, the whole plant is used in oral re-hydration, while the leaf, stem, and root extracts of this plant are important in the management of various ailments. Earlier works on Cissus quadrangularis report its effectiveness on the management of obesity and complications associated with metabolic syndrome [21], as well as its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity in vitro [22,23].

Both preparations brought about a significantly greater weight loss than a placebo during the study period in obese individuals. This was accompanied by a significant improvement in the lipid profiles, blood sugar profiles, and serotonin profiles of study participants. They could have additional properties as antioxidants against oxidative stress in obese individuals. Thus, CQR-300 as well as CORE possesses antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties that could have applications in metabolic as well as other physiological complications in which there is an increase in oxidative stress. These new findings warrant further exploration into the active phytonutrients of Cissus quadrangularis and the potential of its newly discovered weight loss and cardiovascular health benefits.